I’m Concerned With Healthy, Clean Living. Can I Still Drink Wine?
Many of us hit the new year and want to reset our lifestyle to healthier food, clean living and active exercise. We are the same! Yet I know for many of us, we slowly fade into old habits or wonder if we can still drink wine as a part of our health-focus. Wine can absolutely be a part of that mix!
Researchers have found that moderate consumption of wine can actually benefit your health. For example, red wine contains antioxidants called polyphenols that can help protect the lining of blood vessels in the heart and improve cholesterol levels. Resveratrol is another beneficial compound found in red wine that has been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as potential benefits for heart health. Quercetin, a type of flavonoid found in both red and white wine, has been linked to improved immune function and reduced risk of heart disease. Wine also contains a range of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B6, which is important for brain function, and potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure.
Furthermore, for those of us counting carbs and logging all our food intake into fitness tracking apps, wine is a great option.
Most quality red wines have less than 1 gram per liter of residual sugar, and many have no sugar at all. This is because the yeast converts all the sugars found in the grapes into alcohol during fermentation, so there's little to no sugar left. 1 gram per liter of residual sugar would equate to 0.15 carbs. Many wines (like ours) with absolutely no residual sugar, have NO carbs.
Comparing to other beverages: a 5 oz glass of red wine is about 125 calories vs. a margarita that can range between 200 and 300 calories.
Although, it's worth noting that less expensive wines from larger producers in the United States (below-$12) may contain some residual sugar (2 - 10 g/l). The reason is that they're making mass-market wines that need a LOT of grapes in such large quantities, and there's no way to control grape quality as much. If they leave some sugar in, their wines will taste better, or be more fruity and enjoyable. However smaller, high-quality producers, such as those found in our area of Santa Barbara Wine Country, care tremendously for the health of their grapes and can hand-hold small batches of wine and ensure no sugar remains while producing excellent wine.
That’s why we always keep wine as a part of our diet repertoire, in moderation of course.
Cheers!
-Sarah & Skye